Pressing machine



June 11, 1,963 J. slLvERMAN 3,093,275

PRESSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 11, 1963 J. slLvERMAN 3,093,275

PRESSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/ 3 INVENTOR.

9M M/ML June 11,1963 J. SILVERMAN 3,093,275

PRESSING MACHINE Filed Aug. '4. 1960 s sheets-sheet s 1N V EN TOR.

' J .SIL VEP/MW WM/M .latent 11 3,093,275 Patented June 11, 1963 3,0%,275 PRESSING MACHINE Jacob Silverman, 2101 Ave. R, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Aug. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 47,484 12 Claims. (Cl. 223-38) The present invention relates to a machine for pressing sheets, and relates more specifically to such a machine in which the sheets are initially associated with a shaping form and `are pressed in desired shape after that form has been withdrawn therefrom.

Many types of garment parts and appurtenances are designed to be shaped, `folded and pressed prior to incorporation into the finished garment. In some instances the sheets are preformed Iand then conveyed to a pressing station where they -are pressed while retained in desired shape. In other instances an unfolded sheet of appropriate -size is conveyed to a combined forming and pressing station, at which station the edges of the sheets are foldedover to give the sheet its desired shape and the sheet is thereafter pressed in that shape. In both instances a shaping form is customarily employed either to assist in conveying the sheet to the pressing station, or to ensure that the sheet is lin proper shape when it is pressed, or both. In the case of the pre-formed :pouches first mentioned this shaping -form serves to hold the pouch taut, while in the case of the initially unfolded sheets second mentioned the -shaping form functions `as a die about which the edges of the sheet are folded to impart -tothe sheet its desired shape.

Where the shaping form is itself involved in the pressing operation (as distinguished from the shaping or conveying operation), las where the sheet is pressed while it remains on the shaping form, the productivity of a given pressing machine is markedly limited. Since the shaping form remains at the pressing station during the pressing operation, and since the pressing operation has an appreciable duration, during that operation the shaping form is not yavailable for any other operations, such as the preliminary application thereto of a new sheet preparatory to the shaping and pressing of that new sheet. In the second place, quite frequently a pressing oper-ation can be better performed in the absence of the shaping form, particularly insofar as sharpness of pressed edge is concerned. Nevertheless, the presence of the shaping form at the pressing station during the pressing operation has usually been tolerated, in part because it was believed that retraction of the shaping form would cause the pressed sheet to lose its proper shape and partly because it was not known how to design a piece of equipment which would accomplish 4the retraction of the shaping fo-rm without excessively complicated, unreliable andV expensive linkages.

The pressing machine of the present invention can be used either with pre-formed sheets or with sheets adapted to be folded to shape at the pressing station. For both types `of sheets it provides a shaping form which will move the sheet to the pressing station, will ensure that the sheet will either remain in or be formed to its desired shape, and then may readily be retracted from the sheet, thereby to permit the sheet to be pressed while at the same time releasing the shaping form forsubsequent manipulation, such -as the application thereto of the. next sheet to be pressed. This is all accomplished automatically, without requiring any actions on the part of the operator of the machine lother than those which are involved in the operation of the conventional machines in which the shaping form is not retracted from the pressing station during the pressing operation. The mechanism 4by means of which these results Iare achieved is simple, sturdy, inexpensive, 4and substantially foolproof.

In accordance with the present invention the shaping form is movably mounted on a carrying arm. The arm itself, with the shaping form thereon, is movable between a raised position remote from Ithe pressing station, in which position the sheet to be pressed may be placed on the shaping form if desired, and a lowered position close to the pressing station, in which position the sheet to be pressed is conveyed to the pressing station. When the carrying arm is in its lowered position the shaping form is biased lrelative thereto to a position in the pressing station, but is movable relative to the carrying arm. to a position beyond the pressing station and released from the pressing elements carried by the machine. The shaping form is lalso preferably collapsible. Its movement relative lto the arm by which it is carried is preferably in two directions, at least one of which involves collapse of the form, and that movement may occur either in a plurality of separate steps or in a single `composite step. The pressing elements carried by the machine comprise a bottom pressure plate and a plurality of edge-folding members movably mounted relative to the pressure plate between positions respectively beyond and overlying the pressing station, the movement of those members to their positions overlying the pressing station being effective to fold the sheet to be pressed Aaround the edges of the shaping form (if that has not already been done) and to hold it tautly in position. The movement of these edge-folding members to their operative position yover the pressing -station is automatically coordinated with the movement of the shaping form to its position beyond the pressing station, the latter being thus moved in proper synchronism with the movement of the edgefolding strips so that after those strips have performed their desired function, the sheet then being folded to shape yand retained in shape, the shaping form is released and it 'and the arm which carries it may be moved to their initial position, ready for another operation. The

mechanism for controlling the movement of the shaping form is carried by the `arm on which the shaping form is mounted and is `adapted to lbe actuated by -a part mounted on the machine proper `and movable in synchronism with the edge-folding members, operative connection between that part and the mechanism for controlling the movement of the shaping form `being made when the:

arm which carries the shaping form is moved to its lowered position, that operative connection being broken when said arm is moved to its raised position, the shaping form then preferably automatically resuming its uncollapsed shape land its initial position relative to the aim.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction of a pressing machine as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view, partially broken away, of

the machine of the present invention with the shaping' form located in the pressing station;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional View taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. l, and showing in broken lines the raised position of the shaping form and the arm which carries it;

FIG. 3l is la View similar to FIG. 2 showing the position which the parts take when the edge-forming mem-v bers have been moved to operative position overlying thev pressing station, `the shaping form has been moved to itsv position beyond the pressing station and has collapsed, and the pressure plate has been moved to pressing position;

FIG. 4 is la fragmentary three-quarter perspective view of a first embodiment of the shaping form and a portion of the arm which carries it in posiltion above the pressing station on the table of the machine;

FIG. is a top plan view of the shaping form of FIG. 4 after it has been moved part way back beyond the pressing station;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the shaping form in the position which it `assumes when it has been collapsed and moved completely beyond the pressing station; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the shaping form.

The machine comprises a support generally designated 2 and carrying a table 4 on which a pressing station generally designated 6 is provided, that pressing station being defined inside of an aperture 8 formed in the upper level of the table 4 and over a pressure plate 10 which is adapted to move upwardly through an aperture 12 formed in the lower level of the table 4. Any suitable heating means, preferably electrical, is active on the pressure plate to maintain it at an elevated temperature. A pair of edge folding members 14 are slidably mounted between the upper and lower levels of the table 4. These members 14 are biased by means of springs 16 (see FIG. 1) to their forward position and are provided with inclined slots 18 within which screws 20 fixed to the table 4 are received, so that as the members 14 are moved rearwardly (to the left) against the action of the springs 16 they will also move inwardly toward one another. The normal position of the members 14, to which they are urged by the springs 16, is one in which their inner edges are located outside the periphery of the aperture 8 and hence beyond the pressing station 6. When the members 14 are moved rearwardly and inwardly their edges move over the pressing station 6 and over the pressure plate 10, all as may be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3. An actuating plate 14n for the members 14 is slidably received between the upper and lower levels of the table 4 in line with the members 14 and extends out forwardly beyond the front of the support 2, and a pin 22 extends up from the actuating plate 14a and is slidable through elongated slot 24 in the upper level of the table 4.

An arm 26, which defines a carrying element for the shaping form generally designated 28, is pivotally mounted at 30 adjacent the rear end of the table 4. It has a rearwardly projecting part 26a from which a hook 32 depends, and a tension spring 34 is connected between that hook 32 and a portion of the support 2, the spring 34 being active to urge the arm 26 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction to the position indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 2. An adjustable screw 36 depending from the rearwardly projecting portion 26a of the arm 26 engages with a bracket 37 on the support 2 and serves as a stop for the spring-urged upper position of the arm 26.

The shaping form 2S, as disclosed in FIGS. 1-6, and as may best be seen in FIGS. 4-6, comprises a pair of shaping plates 38 and 38a each connected by means of bracket 40 and 40a respectively to bodies 42, 42a respectively which are in turn slidable on arms 44, 44a, being retained in position thereon by top plates 46, 46a. Tension springs 48, 48a are active between pins 50, 50a on the arms 44, 44a .and pins S2, 52a on the top plates 46, 46a, those springs urging the bodies 42, 42a outwardly along the arms 44, 44a, the degree of outward movement being limited by engagement between the top plates 46, 46a and the pins 50, 50a. Each of the bodies 42, 42a has a stud 54, 54a extending up therefrom, on which a roller 56, 56a is rotatably mounted. The arms 44, 44a extend forwardly and outwardly from, and are xed to, a carriage 58 which is slidably mounted on the arm 26 and passes through elongated slot 60 formed therein, the carriage 58 being biased to its forward position by means of spring 62 tensioned between pins 64 and 66 fixed respectively to the carriage 58 and to the arm 26. When the shaping form 28 is in its normal position, as urged by the springs 48, 48a and 62, 1t will be positioned forwardly and will be outwardly expanded, and in that normal position the periphery of the shaping plates 38, 38a will deline the desired shape which a fabric sheet is to assume when it is being pressed. The shaping plates 38 and 38a are capable of at least partially overlapping one another when they are moved toward one another.

Also mounted on the arm 26, and forwardly of the carriage 58, is a slidable sleeve 68 which, on its underside, carries a front depending finger 70 and a rear laterally extending bracket 72, the latter being on a level with and adapted to engage the rollers 56, 56a. A lever 74 is pivotally mounted on the forward end of the arm 26, at 76, has a handle 78 secured thereto, and is connected by spring 80 to a pin 82 xed to the arm 26, the spring 80 biasing the lever 74 to its position shown 1n FIG. 2.

When the shaping form 28 is in its normal forward and uncollapsed or expanded position, and when the carrying arm 26 is moved downwardly against the action of the spring 34 to its position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, the plates 38, 38a of the shaping form 28 pass through the aperture 8 in the table 4, which aperture preferably has a configuration closely similar to the peripheral configuration of the shaping form plates 38, 38a, to a position below the level of the edge-forming members 14. At the same time the lower end of the lever 74 engages with the forwardly protruding portion of the actuating plate 14a and the finger 70 carried by the sleeve 68 on the arm 26 moves in behind the upstanding pin 22, all as is shown in FIG. 2.

Means are provided for urging the pressure plate 10 upwardly with considerable force in order to produce a pressing operation. As here disclosed, that means comprises (see FIGS. 2 and 3) a pressure pin 84 adapted to engage the underside of the pressure plate 10 and carried by arm 86 pivotally mounted at 88 `beneath the table 4 and provided with spring 90 active between it and the table 4 to tend to urge the arm 86 to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, thereby to withdraw the pin 84 from the pressure plate 10. A second arm 92 is pivotally mounted beneath the table 4 at 94, is operatively connected to the arm 86 at 96, and is provided with a spring 98 tending to u rge it to pivot in a counterclockwise direction. A portion of the arm 92 extends out beyond the front of the support 2 and is there connected to a chain or link `100 the other end of which is secured to an actuating element such as a foot treadle or hand lever. Depending from the arm 92 is an arm 102 carrying a roller 104 at its lower end and urged by means of spring 106 toward Ithe front of the support 2, that front being provided with a cutout 108 into which the roller 104 may be received when the link or chain 100 has been pulled downwardly. A sole noid 110 is located opposite the cutout 108 and is provided with an armature 112 to which pin 114 is connected by means of bracket 116, a space being provided between pin 114 and armature 112. A plate 118 is received in that space, the plate being secured to the arm 102 at 120. A switch 122 has an actuating button 124 positioned beneath the arm 92 and adapted to be depressed whenever the arm 92 is moved to its position shown in FIG. 3, that switch 112 being electrically connected to `adjustable timer 126 which in turn controls the action ofthe solenoid 110.

When the machine is to be used the arm 26 is in its raised position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, the shaping form 28 is in its forward and expanded position thereon, the edge-forming members 14 are in the forward and outward positions, and the pressure plate 10 is in its lowermost released position. The sheet to be pressed is then placed in operative position on the device. If that sheet is of a pre-formed pouch-like shape it is slid over the shaping form plates 38, 38a. If that sheet is as yet unshaped it is either provisionally placed on the shaping form plates 38, 38a or else is positioned on the table 4 over the aperture 8. Next the handle 78 is grasped and the arm 26 is moved down to its position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. In those instances where the sheet to be pressed is already attached to the plates 38, 38a it is carried by those plates to the pressing station 6. Where the sheet to be pressed was initially placed over the table aperture 8 the plates 38, 38a, in moving through that aperture 8, carry the body of the sheet along therewith, leaving the peripheral portions of the sheet upstanding in the space between the peripheries of the plates 38, 38a and the aperture 8.

The handle 78 is then pulled forwardly against the spring 80. Its lower end moves the actuating plate 14a rearwardly and the edge-folding members 14, because of the orientation of their inclined slots 18, move inwardly as well as rearwardly into the pressing station 6 and over the peripheral portions of the shaping form plates 38, 38a. In so moving they tauten the sheet to be pressed around the edges of lthe plates 38, 38a and, in those instances where the sheet to be pressed has `not yet been folded over the periphery of the plates 38, 38a, the members l14 perform that folding function as well.

As the actuating plate 14a moves rearwardly the pin 22 engages the nger 70 and moves the sleeve 68 rearwardly along the arm 26 until the bracket 72 engages the rollers 56. Initially, as is clearly shown in FIG. 2, there is a clearance between the bracket 72. and the rollers 56, so thatthe first portiono'f the movement of the edge-folding members 14 takes place without the vmovement of any other operative parts. Once the bracket 72 has engaged the rollers 56, however, and continues to move rearwardly along with the actuating plate 14a, the rollers 56 are also forced rearwardly and they carry with them the carriage 58 and the sh-aping form plates 38, 38a, so that those plates 38, 38a move rearwardly away from the pressing station 6 (see FIG. 5). After the carriage 58 has moved rearwardly as far as it can go, as determined by the limits of the slot 60, the actuating plate 14a, and with it the part 72, continue to move rearwardly, during which time the rollers S6 are moved simultaneously rearwardly and inwardly in the direction of the arms l44 against the action of the springs 48, 48a, the plates 38, 38a then having a combined rearward and collapsing movement, overlapping one another, to positions completely insides the periphery of the edge-folding strips 14 and completely beyond the pressing station 6 (see FIG. 6).

At an appropriate time during this movement or, if preferred, after this movement has been completed, the linkage or chain 100y is depressed to raise the pressure plate and thus press the formed sheet between the pressure plate 10 and the edge-folding members 14, the pressure plate 10` being locked in its pressure-applying position by means of roller 104 being received in aperture 108 and remaining in that locked position for a length of time determined by the setting of the adjustable timer 126 (see FIG. 3).

Once the shaping form plates 38, 38a have been moved to their rearward and collapsed position beyond the pressing station 6 and the pressure plate 10 has been locked in its pressure-applying position the arm 26 is permitted to move to its raised position. As soon as the finger 70 has moved upwardly out of engagement with the pin 22 the springs 48, 48a and 62 cause the shaping form 28 to resume its normal forward and expanded position, ready for another operation.

FIG. 7 discloses a simplified embodiment of the shaping yform 28 in which the shaping form plates 38', 38a each move continuously rearwardly and inwardly, rather than first moving bodily rearwardly and then rearwardly and inwardly, as in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. In the embodiment of FIG. 7 a plate `128 is xed to the arm 26 and is provided with a plurality of rearwardly and inwardly inclined slots 130. The shaping form plates 38 and 38a are slidably mounted on the underside of the plate 128 and are provided with pins 132, 132a slidably received in the slots 130. They are further provided at Itheir forward ends with studs 54', 54a' on which rollers 56', 56a' are mounted. Tension springs 48', '48a' are connected between pins 52', 52a on the plates 38', 38a respectively and pins 50i', 50a on the fixed plate 128, those springs 48', 48a serving to bias the plates 38', 38a' to their forward and expanded position. The retracted and collapsed position of the plates 38', 38a' and the parts carried thereby is indicated on FIG. 7 by broken lines.

The timing and coordination of the 4retraction movement of the shaping form plates 38, 38a with the movement of Ithe edge-folding members 14 is positively controlled by the design of the equipment, and specifically by the movement permitted to the edge-folding members 14 prior to operative engagement of the rollers 56 by the bracket 72. Hence retraction of the shaping form plates yfrom the pressing station preferably is accomplished 'only after the edge-folding members 14 have moved inward sufficiently to frictionally grasp and hold the sheet to be pressed between themselves and the pressure pla-te 10 while the latter is in its released lowermost position. 1

The actions of the operator of the machine are only those required in previously known equipment of the same general ty-pe whichl do not have the shaping form retraction feature which is characteristic of the equipment here disclosed. Thus, Iwithout requiring xany additional skill, care, attention or action on the part of the operator, a new and useful function is performed, and the mechanism iby means of which that function is accomplished is positive-acting, sturdy, and readily manufactured and assemble-d without requiring any high degree of precision of manufacture.

While but a limited number of embodiments of the present invention have been here disclosed, it will be apparen-t that many variations may be made in the specific details thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pressing device for la sheet comprising a support having a pressing station, lan element articulately operatively connected to said support for essentially vertical movement relative to said pressing station between first and Isecond positions, a shaping form carried by said element and movable relative to said element in an essentially horizontal direction toward and away from said pressing station, and actuating means on said support operatively connected to said shaping form when said element is in its first position for moving said shaping form relative to said element, said actuating means being operatively disconnected from said shaping form when said element is in its second position.

2. In the pressing device of claim Il, means operatively connected to said shaping form for biasing it toward said pressing station, said actuating means, when operated, causing it to move away from said pressing station.

3. The pressing device of claim l, in which said first position of said element is relatively close to said pressing station and said second position thereof is relatively remote from said pressing station.

4. In the pressing device of claim 3, an operating handle movably mounted on said element and operatively connected to said actuating means on said support when said element is in i-ts first position, said handle, when operatively connected to said actuating means, operating said actu-ating means.

5. A pressing device for a sheet comprising a support having a pressing station, an element Iarticulately operatively connected `to said support for movement relative to said pressing station between first and second positions, a shaping form carried by said element and movable relative to saidV element so as to expand and contract, actuating means on said support operatively connected to said shaping form when said element is in its first position for expanding and contracting said shaping form, said actuating means being operatively disconnected from said shaping form when said element is in its second position, and an operating handle movably mounted on said element and operatively connected to said actuating means on said support only when said element is in its first position, said handle, when operatively connected to said actuating means, operating said actuating means.

6. The pressing device of claim 5, in which said first position of said element is relatively close to said pressing station and said second position thereof is relatively remote from said pressing station.

7. A pressing device for a sheet comprising a support having a pressing station, an element articulately operatively connected to said support for essentially vertical movement relative to said pressing station ,between first and second positions, a shaping form carried by said element and movable relative to said element in an essentially horizontal direction toward and away from said pressing station, said shaping form also being movable relative to said element so -as to expand and contract, and actuating means on said support operatively connected to said shaping `form when said element is in its first position for both moving said shaping form relative to said element toward and away from said pressing station and expanding 1and contracting said shaping form, said actuating means being operatively disconnected -from said shaping form when said element is in its second position.

8. In the pressing device of claim 7, means operatively connected to said shaping form for biasing it to its expanded condition and toward said pressing station, said actuating means, when operated, causing it to contract and to move away from said pressing station.

9. The pressing device of claim 8, in which said actuating means, when operated, first causes said shaping form to move away from said pressing station and then causes it to contract.

10. The pressing device of claim 8, in which said actuating means, when operated, causes said shaping form to move away from said pressing station and to contract substantially simultaneously.

11. The pressing device of claim 7, in which said first position of said element is relatively close to said pressing station and said second position thereof is relatively remote from said pressing station.

12. In the pressing device of claim 11, an operating handle movably mounted on said element and operatively connected to said actuating means on said support when said element is in its first position, said handle, when operatively connected to said actuating means, operating said actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,698,469 Beattie Ian. 8, 1929 2,553,194 Hovell May 15, 1951 2,609,129 Goldberg Sept. 2, 1952 2,657,840. Bernstein et al. Nov. 3, 1953 2,726,020 Fenby Dec. 6, 1955 2,858,967 Gilbert Nov. 4, 1958 2,884,168 Portera Apr. 28, 1959 2,917,211 Silverman Dec. 15, 1959 2,929,537 Price et al Mar. 22, 1960 

1. A PRESSING DEVICE FOR A SHEET COMPRISING A SUPPORT HAVING A PRESSING STATION, AN ELEMENT ARTICULATELY OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT FOR ESSENTIALLY VERTICAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID PRESSING STATION BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, A SHAPING FORM CARRIED BY SAID ELEMENT AND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID ELEMENT IN AN ESSENTIALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID PRESSING STATION, AND ACTUATING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SHAPING FORM WHEN SAID ELEMENT IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION FOR MOVING SAID SHAPING FORM RELATIVE TO SAID ELEMENT, SAID ACTUATING MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY DISCONNECTED FROM SAID SHAPING FORM WHEN SAID ELEMENT IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION. 